Close encounter at Great Orme

The Dialy Post, U.K. - 4/8/2004

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ALIEN abductions are generally considered the stuff of legend, Hollywood, and conspiracy theories. However new research by brewing giant Grolsch has named the Great Orme as one of Britain's top places for extra- terrestrial kidnappings.

ALIEN abductions are generally considered the stuff of legend, Hollywood, and conspiracy theories.

However new research by brewing giant Grolsch has named the Great Orme as one of Britain's top places for extra- terrestrial kidnappings.

As part of an out-of-this-world advertising campaign, the Dutch company points to a catalogue of reported sightings which make the Llandudno beauty spot the UK's third most likely spot to witness a close encounter of the space kind.

They included multiple UFO sightings in 1997 and a family which claimed to have lost five hours after being followed by a triangular shaped craft.

Conwy tourism bosses said they were delighted the beauty spot figured so highly.

They welcome everybody, they said, even those from beyond planet Earth.

"We have visitors from across the globe already and we would be happy to welcome those from further afield also" said Coun Eddie Woodward, cabinet member for economic development and regeneration, which includes tourism.

"Llandudno has something for everybody"

There have been hundreds of UFO sightings across North Wales stretching back decades.

One of the most famous cases was in the Berwyn mountains in 1974 when a huge explosion was heard. Some witnesses claimed a UFO had crash landed.

The Grolsch study, part of a company-produced booklet called "How To Be Abducted By Aliens" shows aliens and spaceships come in all shapes and sizes.

Although tongue in cheek, UFO researcher Nick Pope says there is a serious side to the mystery.

Nick, who works for the Ministry of Defence, said: "There are literally hundreds of sightings across the UK every year, not just North Wales.

"The vast majority are simply mistaken sightings of aircraft, weather balloons, satellites, hoaxes and such like.

"But there is a small hardcore of really interesting cases, for example, which come from police officers, pilots and military personnel.

"With abduction cases, there are psychological explanations such as vivid dreams or sleep paralysis, but again there is a small hardcore of cases which are extremely interesting.

"The honest answer to what I think is going on is that I just don't know"

Researchers compiled the list after checking UFO sightings over many years.

Top of the alien list was Bonnybridge in Lanarkshire, Scotland, followed by Cley Hill in Wiltshire.